Machine for stretching



u y s. COHN MACHINE FOR STHBTCHING, DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC Filed June 17. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY I 1,636,68 3 July 26, 1927- COHN MACHINE FOR STRETCHING, DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC Filed June 17. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR Y JM BY W A MM- A TTORNE Y Jul 26 1927.

y s. COHN MACHINE FOR STRETCHING; DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC Filed June 17. 1924 6 sh ts-sheet 3 J gm T2 R 311 ATTORNEY WWW 1,636,683 5. COHN MACHINE FOR STRETCHING, DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC July 26, 1927.

Filed June 17, 1924 6 s t -s t 4 IN VENTOR .4 TTOR NE Y Jul 26 1927.

y s. COHN MACHINE FOR STRETCHING, DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC Filed June 17. 1924 6 sh ts-sheet ATTORNEY July 26, 1927. s COHN 1,636,683

MACHINE FOR STRETCHING, DRYING, AND WINDING UP TUBULAR FABRIC Filed June 1'7. 1924 5 sheet 6 dM/M v INVENTER ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL (JOHN, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR STRE'ICI-IING, DRYING, AND WINDING TIP TUBULAR FABRIC.

Application filed June 17, 1924. Serial No. 720,547.

My invention relates to a machine for stretching, drying and winding up tubular fabric. The invention may be used for various industries but I believe that it is the first apparatus for stretching and drying tubular fabric of large diameter, such as knitted fabric from which garments are to be made, which will handle the tubular fabric in such a manner as to maintain the wale of the fabric in a straightline, automatically, notwithstanding the irregular position of the fabric prior to its passage into the machine. The present machine embodies means for stretching the fabric to uniform diameter and it is adapted to hair dle knitted fabric for the purpose of stretching it to the predetermined. uniform size. The machine also embodies means for rapidly drying fabric evenly to maintain uni.- formity of size. It also includes means for winding the fabric into a roll with the wale in a uniform straight line. Heretofore, in handling knitted fabric, where the fabric was passed over a stretching member and afterwards wound into a roll there was a tendency for the knitted fabric to turn in relation to the stretching device so that when the fabric was wound into a roll the wale was disposed diagonally and not always at the same angle unless an operator were set at the winding machine to regulate its action in order to keep the fabric straight while being wound up. I11 the present case I provide a simple arrangement whereby the operator may adjust one of the members over which the fabric travels to correct the tendency of the fabric to move spirally. In the fullest embodiment of my invention, however, I provide means which automatically controls the direction of the fabric so that the wale continues in a straight line, even though the fabric is disposed irregular ly before it reaches the machine.

Another object of my invention is to wind the fabric smoothly in flat form and to eliminate the tendency of the strip of fabric to curl at the side edges. Heretofore, where knittedfabric has been passed between rollers for winding the'strip into a roll the fabric has been distorted in the winding ac tion with the result that it had a tendency to curl at the edges. In the present machine I provide means for eliminating the tendency to curl so that distortion of the fabric in relation to its original structure is avoided. Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description hereinafter.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an elevation, on alarger scale, of part of the fabric stretching device,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device for guiding the fabric just before it passes between the propelling rollers,

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the relation of the stretching means to the drying means and also the final rolling-up device,

Figure 5 is an end elevation of part of the mechanism. shown in Figure 4:,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 of Figure 6,

Figure 7 is an elevation partly in section of mechanical means for imparting a movement to one of the fabric stretching members to cause a diagonal lead in the fabric.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a sectional. view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 7,

Figure 10 is a plan view of one of the stretching members shown in Figure 7,

Figure 11 is an elevation of the stretching and guiding means in a modified form,

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a plan view of the same parts with portions broken away,

Figure 141: is a perspective View of one of the guide wheels with a portion broken away to show the shape of it,

Figure 15 is an elevation with parts in section showing the take-off and piling device,

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Figure 15, and

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 1717 of Figure 15.

The present invention embodies means for engaging inside of the long tube of fabric, the fabric passing thereover and being stretched'or distended in circular form; and from the stretching device the fabric passes between the guide rollers which roll it into flat for After that the fabric passes through chambers where it is heated and dried, again stretched, and finally wound on a suitable arbor in the form of a roll with the wale of the fabric extending parallel with the length of the tubular body. In Figure 1 l have shown part of the stretching and winding mechanism and also the drying device.

In Figure l I have shown a tubular body of fabric 1 which maybe received into the machine from a body or bulk of fabric arranged in a box or it may come from a lower floor of the building in which the machine arranged. It is assumed that the fabric arrives at the present device irregular, or with the Wale of the tube of fabric twisted in various ways especially if the fabric has been passed through dyeing, bleaching or other liquid. baths. Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1.1 to 141 the fabric, so far as the present machine is concerned, first passes over a circular, disc or wheel 2 which is mounted on the lower end of a shaft 3 and it is adapted to turn very easily thereon due to the ball bearing through}which the wheel is mounted on this shaft. This wheel preferably consists of an annular rim 5 connected with the central hub 7 by means of spokes 6 and the wheel may be made of aluminum to reduce its weight and thereby permit it to be turned without material resistance. It is preferable that this member have a smooth and circular periphery b for the fabric to go easily over it, Spaced from the member 2 there is anothercircular disc or wheel 9 similar to the lower one and it is also mounted by means of a ball bearing 10 upon the shaft 3. Detailed description of the stretching device will be set forth hereinafter. After passing over the stretching members 2, 9, the fabric passes between a series of rollers .11 in Fig ure 1 and it then passes between a series of propelling rollers 12, which may be operated in the same manner as the corresponding rollers in my saidco-pending application, From there, the fabric, in the form of a flat strip, passesthrough the tubular heating chamber 13, in which a cur- I rent of heated air is moving in the opposite The direction to the travel of the fabric. fabric emerges through a slot in the rear wallof the hood 14L and then passes between the propelling rollers 15 and partly around an idler. lG and the fabric returns through another slot in. the rear" wall of the hood 14 and travels through the tubular drying chamber 17 and after passing out of the left hand end. of this chamber the fabric again passesbetween propelling rollers 18 and is then wound in the form of. a roll upon an arbor 19 which is guided in the 7 frame 20. ofthe inachinegin suchmanner that theroll of fabric rests on the propelling roller 18 and is driven by surface contact therewith. Q

I have shown in the drawing theioven 21' inwhich the air is Referring to the construction shown in l-igures 7 to 10 itwill be seen that the upper v circular stretching member 9 is put under slight resistance by means of a coilel'lspring 25 surrounding the shaft 3 and com n'essed between the collar 26 which is hxed to the shaft 3 and. between a washer 527' which presses on the hub 28 of the wheel member 9. forcing the latter against the collar 29 which is fixed to the shaft 3 below the wheel 9. The spring: 27 places a slight frictional resistance upon the wheel member 9 so that the latter will remain in any position in which it is placed but it can be turned by very light pressure such as by the hand of the operator, in order to correct the'lead of the fabric to keep the wale in astraight line. In addition to such adjustment ,or iiositiouing as maybe done by hand from time to time I have shown in these figures automatic and mechanical means for causing a dehm to diagonal lead of the tubular fabric to counteract the natural tendency of the.

fabric to move diagonally. The mechanical nieans-shown in these views consist partly of a mitre gear 30 arranged on theshaft 31 which operates the mitre gears 32. meshing therewith. One of the mitrefgears 32 is mounted on the end of the shaft 33 on, the

lower end of which is a clutch member 35 and the other initre gear 32 is mounted on a sleeve 34: which surrounds and revolves independently 'of, the shaft 33; and this sleeve is provided with aclutch member '36,

the teeth of which are pitched in the 0ppo-= 7 site direction to the teeth of the clutch member 35. There 1s a-"gear 37 whichslides on the shaft 33 and on one side it carries a clutch member 38 which is adapted to enbearings in the brackets 43; and on the,

lower end of this shaft'there is a mitre gear 44 which meshes with and drives a 'mitre gear 45 on tl'ieshaft 46. On this same shaft 46 there is aavorm 47"which operates the -worm'gear 48 journaled onthe 'stud52; and

this worm gear is providedawitha shoe 49 pivoted at the point 58 the shoe having an extended arm which is held. in an intermediate position by means of con'un'ession springs 5i acting in opposite directions between the al'nitn'ients 54-. As the worm gear 48 revolves. the shoe l9 at each revolution engages with the wheel 9 and (321M508 the latter to be turned a slight extent, after which the wheel 9 remains stationary under the action of the tension spring 25, until the gear 4-8 makes another revolution. In this manner a slow step-by-step movement is imparted to the wheel 9 for the purpose of causing a diagonal lead to the fabric.

The tube of fabric, which may be received from a box as shown in lfigure 4t, passes first over the freely revolvable wheel 2 and then over the wheel 9, engaging against the peripheries of these revolvable wheels and the fabric then passes over the idle rollers or wheels 55 fulcrumed on opposite ends of a spreader arm 56 which is mounted on the vertical shaft The wheels 55 are spaced apart greater than the diameter of the wheel members, 2, 9, but they do not necessarily iiwrcase the diameter of the fabric to a corresrmnding extent because from the time the fabric leaves the wheel 9 it commences to be elongated to approach a flat condition so that when it passes over the wheels 55 it is almost in the form of a collapsed tube.

011 the upper end of the shaft 3 I have shown a block 57 from which extend in opposite directions turnbuckles 58 which carry on their outer ends the arms 59 which may be adjusted in their width by means of the turnbuckles. At the outer ends of these arms and extending upwardly, there are grooved members 60 which are adapted to lie between certain propelling rollers to support the shaft 3 and the various parts mounted on it.

The tubular fabric is threaded into the machine by carrying the end over the wheel 2 and then over the wheel 9, after which it is passed over the spreading wheels 55 and over the supporting members 60 and from there it is passed through the feeding rollers, drying apparatus, etc. As the fabric is propelled by the feeding rollers it travels continuously over the wheel 2 and over the wheel 9 and between these two wheels there is some tension created in the fabric due to the stretching action of these wheels and to the propelling action upon the fabric. As the lower wheel 2 is free to turn with almost inappreciable resistance the tension has a tendency to cause this lower wheel 2 to turn rightor left to partly conform to the direction of the wale of the fabric. Assuming that the fabric is in an irregular condition before it reaches the lower wheel 2 that is to say, the wale may be twisted in various directions, the tension referred to, together with the revolvability of the wheel 2 causes .the latter to tnrnright or left to bring the wale of the fabric approximately in a straight line. It is found, however, that this is not entirely sui'licient to bring the wale straight but that there a tendency for the fabricto take a diagonal lead, the direction of which is deten'mined by the con struction of the fabric and this temlcncy is very often Ul'llfUl'll'l and it may be connhaacted by a contrary lead produced by the wheel 9 so that the wale is maintained in a perfectly straight line. If it is found after the fabric begins to move over the stretching membersthat the wheel 9 requires a movement clockwise or counterclockwise to produce the diagonal lead necessary to counteract the natu 'al lead, the clutch. lever 40 will be operated to throw the clutch member 38 into'engagement with the clutch member 36 or else the clutch member 39 will be thrown into engagement with the lower clutch member In one case the gear 37 will be revolved in one direction and in the other case it will be revolved in the other direction. The motion is transmitted through the gea r ll the shaft and the initre gears M and through the worm 46 to the worm gear 48 and at each revolution of the latter the shoe 4-9 will engage the wheel 2 and turn the latter slightly clockwise or counterclockwise, according to the position of the clutch lever 40. The slow step-by-step motion produced by the shoe 4:9 acting on the wheel 2 will produce a diagonal. lead in the fabric sufficient to offset the natural lead of the fabric and thus keep the wale in a strai ht line. If at any time the operator should find that the automatic device is producing too great or too slight a lead the wheel. 9 may be adjusted in either direction to straighten the wale.

The fabric passes over the spreader rollers 55 after it leaves the wheel 9 and it is spread out by these rollers to a width slightly greater than the width of the supporting members 60 in order to reduce the friction of the fabric upon the latter. lVhere the fabric engages over the spreader wheels 55 it assumes a different shape corresponding ap proximately to a flattened tube.

In Figures 11 to i l I have shown a modi' lied form of device for producing an automatic diagonal lead of the fabric to counter act the natural lead; and in this construc tion no operating mechanism is required other than that used to propel the fabric; and this form of mechanism is much simpler and is very effective. In this form I have shown the wheels 2, 9 mounted by means of ball bearings upon the vertical shaft 3 in spaced relation and the fabric travels over these wheels similar to its passage over the wheels 2, 9, inv the construction first described; and to a certain extent the wheels 2, 9, are revolved right or left by the tension of the fabric to partially straighten the e. co

wale. From the wheel 9 the fabric passes over thespreadmg rollers 61 which revolve freely in the ends of the forks 62 which are adjust-al'ily mounted on the cross arm 63' rounded stud 65 fitting into the bore (36 on one end of the spreading arm ('33 and the fork is adapted to be turned on its axis and held in adjusted position by means of the thumb screw 67, This construction is the same for both spreading wheels 61. The spreading wheels preferably have very narrow or sharp peripheral edges 68. In setting up the device for operation the spreading wheel atone side or'at one end of the arm '63 is set in aposition which places the spreading wheel diagonally of the direction of movement of the fabric and the spreading wheel at the opposite side is also placed in a diagonal position as is shown in lligure 13. The extent of the pitch of these spreading wheels will. depend upon the requirements of the fabric and the required pitch will be determined by observing the operation. upon the fabric and adjustii'ig them until the lead produced by these wheels exactly counteracts the natural lead of the fabric, and once this adjustment has been determined no further adjustment of these wheels is required unless different fabric is fed to the machine. As the fabric passes from the wheel 9, it travels over the spreading wheels '61 and due to their angular pitch the latter cause a diagonal lead in the fabric and by proper adjustmentthis lead may exactly counteract or offset the natural lead of the fabric so that as the latter travels between the propelling rollers the wale of i the fabric will travel in a straight line parallel with-the line of the tube of fabric. The wheels 61 may be set to cause a right or left hand diagonal lead in the fabric according to whichever is found necessary to offset the natural lead and this will depend upon the structure of the fabric as applied to the machine.

There is an upper pair of parallel rollers 11 between which the flattened tube passes and by which rollers the fabric is partially propelled, the fabric beingengaged in the bight of these two rollers. Below and parallel with the rollers 11 there are parallel fshafts 70, 71 at opposite ends of which are our.

mounted rollers 72, 73 which may be ad.- justed along these shafts according to the width of the fabric which is being handled,

but these rollers 72, 73 are of such width as to engage only the portion of the fabric at or adjacent the side edges, whereas the rollers 11 engage the full width of the fabric. I have shown flanges '74: on the ends of these small rollers which serve to guide the edges of the fabric. "The supporting members 60 whichcarry the vertical shaft 3 and the associated parts are each placed between one of the pairs of rollers 72, 73 so that the latter press into the grooves 75.

It is understood that the fabric is travel ing over these supporting members 60 and therefore it passes between the rollers 72, 73 and the surface of the members 60. Owing to the engagementof the rollers 72, 73, within the grooves 75of these supporting members, the latter cannot move upwardly nor downwardly and therefore the spreading device as a whole is supported from the rollers 72, 73. In order to adjust these rollers I have shown one of the shafts, 70, mounted in bearing blocks 76 which slide in the brackets 77 of the frame and these bearing blocks are adapted to be moved by means of the screws 78 to increase or decrease the distance between the pairs of rollers 72, 7 27 When the shaft 70 is moved to the right in Figure 7 the supporting members 60 may be inserted or removed and when they are in position the shaft 70 may be adjusted by means of the screws78 to rollers andthe operation of this roller causes the movement of the roller 11 on the shaft 79 through the meshing gears 84,

85 on shafts 79, 83. The gear 86 fixed to p the shaft 83 operates an intermediate gear 87 mounted'on a stud 89. This intermediate gear operates the gear 88 arranged up on the shaft 31 and the ratio of these several gears is such that the peripheral speed of the rollers 72, 73 on the shafts 70, 71 is slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the upper feed rollers 11. On the shaft 71 there is a gear 90 which meshes with and drives a gear 91 fixed on the shaft',

70 and through this connection. the shafts 70, 71 are caused to revolve at thc'same speed in opposite directions. 5 I

Where tubular knitted fabric has been passed over the spreading members and is then propelled between rollerssuch as the upper rollers 11 there is a tendency for the fabric to curl at the edges due to the fact that the fabric is not propelled the same at the edges that it is nearer the central portion. In the present device the several ation. referred to, enables me to introduce the fabric into the drying chamber with the wale lyin straight in the direction of the length of the fabric and with the fabric lying flat or uncurled. From the first stretching and propelling device just described the fabric passes between propelling rollers 12 and it then passes into the drying chamber 13. Preferably, I provide a secondary stretching device as shown in Figure 3 which has supporting members 00 adapted to be held between the propelling rollers 12 in the same manner that the supporting members 00 are held between the rollers 72, 73. This spreading device has a spreading arm 63 on the ends of which are mounted idler spreading wheels 55 which do not have to be set in a diago nal position because the fabric will have been straightened before it arrives at this spreading device. Where the fabric emerges from the drying chamber 18 1 prefer to propel it by means of another pair of propelling rollers 15 with which there is associated a spreading device similar to that shown in Figure 3. From there the fabric passes around the idler 16 and travels to the left in Figure 1 through thesecond drying chamber 17, and it is then propelled by means of another pair of rollers 18 with which there is preferably -associ ated another spreading device like that shown in Figure 3. From there the fabric is wound in the form of a roll upon a suitable drum arranged on the arbor 19.

In order to feed the tube of fabric toward the ring 2 to prevent excessive strain on the subsequent feeding means and in order to prevent distorting the fabric in moving it up to the wheel or ring 2 I have provided novel propelling means. "If the supply of fabric is placed in a receptacle such as the box 95 ready to be fed to the machine there is an idler roller 96 extending across one edge of this box, over which roller the fabric may pass easily. After passing over this roller the fabric passes through a guide 97. This guide has a bushing 108 of smooth material such as glazed porcelain and the opening 98 in it is circular and of such diameter that the knitted tubular fabric in passing through it will be bunched together so that it will appear ropelike in form. After passing through the guide 97 the fabric in the bunch ed condition passes between the feed rollers 99, 100, These rollers have corrugations 109 on their periphery and they act on the bunched fabric to propel it, drawing on the fabric to withdraw it from the box 95 and through the guide 97. From the propelling rollers 99, 100 the fabric travels onto and over the wheel 2 and the subsequent propelling means is relieved of the necessity of propelling the fabric to the wheel 2. By bunching the fabric in ropelike form before it passes between "the propelling rollers 99, 100 the fabric is not distorted. by these rollers as it would be if it remained in the flat form with greater propelling stresses being exerted first on one side and then another. The rollers 99, 100 may he propelled from the shaft 83 by means of the following: There is a crank arm 101 fixed to the end of the shaft 83 and turning with it. There is a pitman 102 having one end pivoted to the crank arm 101 by a block 103 which is adjustable along the crank arm to increase or decrease the extent of move ment of the pitman. The lower end of the pitinan pivoted to an arm 10 1 which is loosely journaled on the shaft 107 of one of the propelling rollers. This arm carries a pawl 105 which engages with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 106 fixed to the shaft 107. As the shaft 83 and crank arm 101 revolve, the pitman 102 is moved up and down and this rocks the arm 1041 which carries the pawl.

The pawl 105 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 106 and turns the propelling rollers step by step, the extent of the turning movement being determined by the adjust ment of the pivotal connection between the crank 101 and the end of the pitman 102.

As the tubular fabric is bunched together when passing through the guide 97 it is handled by the rollers 99, 100 very much like a rope rather than a flattened tube and sutlieient pull may be exerted upon the fabric without distorting it. i

From the above it will be apparent that l have provided means for spreading or stretching and drying tubular fabric and for winding it in the form of a flattened tube with the vale running straight in the direction of the length of the tube and that the tube regular and even and will not curl at the edges. 'Whenever the machine isto be used for a fabric of different diameter suitable adjustment will be made in the positions of the rollers 55 or 61 upon the arms 56 or 03 and the spacing of the several supporting members 60 will be adjusted to correspond with the different diameter of the fabric Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described com prising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, and means includ forth.

ing stretching members, having surfaces dirooted diagonally of the movement f the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled. for the purpose set forth.

z 2. A device of the character described comprising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, and means, 111

eluding revolving members disposed with theirperipheries diagonally of the travel of the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled, for the purpose set forth.

V 3. A device of. the character described, comp ising means over which tubular fabric 's adapted to be propelled, and means incinding revolving members lying inside the tubular fabric and serving to stretch the same and including revolving members disposed with their peripheries diagonally of the travel of the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled, for the purpose set forth.

i. A device of the character described, comprising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, and means, including revolving idlers lying inside the tubular fabric, disposed with their peripheries diagonallyof the travel of the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled, for the purpose set forth.

5. A device of the character described, comprising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, andv means, 1neluding revolving idlers lying inside the tubular fabric, disposed with their peripheries diagonally of the travel of the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabricas it is propelled, for the purpose set forth and means inside the tubular fabric and acting in. advance'of said idlers, for stretching the fabric into circular form.

6. A device of the character described, comprising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, and means including revolving idlers lying inside the tubular fabric, disposed. with their peripheries diagonally ofthe travel of the fabric, for producing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled, for the purpose set forth and means inside the tubular fabric and acting in advance of said idlers, for stretching the fabric into circular form and rollers for rolling the tubular fabric in fiat form as it 1 leaves said idlers. I

- 7. A device of the character described, comprising means over which tubular fabric is adapted to be propelled, revolving idlers lying inside the tubular fabric, and means for adjusting said idlers to arrange their peripheries in various diagonal positions relatively to the path of travel of the fabric, said idlers causing a diagonal lead in the fabric as it is propelled, for the purpose set 8. A device of the class described, wm-- prising circular means over which tubularv fabric is-adapted to be propelled, a spreader I in the tubular fabric, rollers spaced apart on said spreader and adapted to spread the tubular fabric to oval shape as it leaves said circular means, said rollers being diagona'l- 7 1y disposed relatively to the path of travel of the tubularfabric to cause a'diagonal lead therein, for the purpose set forth.

9. A device of the class described, includ ing a spreader and means for supporting it whereby a tubular fabricmay be propelled over it with the spreader lying within the tubular fabric, revolvable membcrsmounted on forks which are pivotally connected with said spreader, whereby said revolvable members may be placed in various diagonal positions relatively to the path of travel of the tubular fabric.

10. A device'of the class described including a spreader and means for ,suppontingit whereby tubular fabric maybe propelled over it with the spreaderlying Within the; tubular fabric, and revolvable member-s 112V.

ing narrow peripheral edges, and mounted on. said spreader to lie at an angle to the path of travel of the fabric, for the purpose set forth. v 1

11. A device of the class described, includinga spreader and means for supporting it,

whereby a tubular fabric may be propelled over it with the spreader lying Within the tubular fabric, said spreader comprising members spaced apartin the direction of travel of the fabric, the member over which the fabric first travels being freely revolw able by the fabric, means for propelling the fabric, and means disposed in the tubular fabric for causing a diagonal, lead in the fabric as it is propelled.

12. A device of the class described, in cluding a spreader and means for supportion ing it whereby a tubular fabric may be prov pelled over it with the spreader lying within the tubular fabric, said spreader comprising members spaced apart in the direction of travel of the fabric, the member over which the fabric first travels being freely held by said supports within the tubular fabric, said revolving member being disposed at anangle to the direction of'travel of the fabna to produce a diagonal lead thereir no r 14. A device of the class described comprising cooperating rollers for propelling a collapsed tubular fabric and engaging substantially the full width of the fabric, and rollers engaging the side edges of the fabric to propel it, and means for operating the rollers whereby said latter rollers will have a greater peripheral speed than said first mentioned rollers.

15. A device of the class described comprising cooperating rollers for propelling a collapsed tubular fabric and engaging sub stantially the full. Width of the fabric, and other rollers engaging only the side edges of the fabric to propel it, said latter rollers acting on the fabric in advance of said first mentioned rollers, and means for oper ating said rollers whereby said second mentioned rollers will have a greater peripheral speed than said first mentioned rollers.

16. A device of the class described comprising cooperating rollers for propelling a collapsed tubular fabric and engaging substantially thefull width of the fabric, and other rollers engaging only the side edges of the fabric to propel it, said latter rollers acting on the fabric in advance of said first rollers, and means for operating said rollers whereby said second mentioned rollers will have a greater peripheral speed than said first mentioned rollers, and means arranged Within the tubular fabric for spreading it prior to its passage betweensaid rollers and means held by said second mentioned rollers for supporting said spreading means.

18. A device of the class described comprising cooperating rollers for propelling a collapsed tubular fabric and engaging substantially the full width of the fabric, and other rollers engaging only the side e(.lges

of the fabric to propel it, said latter rollers substantially the full width of the fabric,

other rollers engaging only the side portions of the fabric to propel-it, means for operating said rollers whereby said second mentioned rollers will have a greater peripheral speed than said first mentioned rollers, and spreading rollers arranged inside the tubular fabric and adapted to spread the same as it is about to be engaged by said second mentioned rollers.

20. A device of the character described having stretching means over which the SAMUEL oonn. 

